PEOPLE EARN their livelihood in myriad ways - catch fish; collect medicinal leaves and fuelwood frim forests; work on farm orfactory; pull a cycle-rickshaw, sell water, vegetables or food on the roadside; market information, opinion, and entertainment; rent land, money or property; run an enterprise of a repair shop or road construction. The economic freedom to produce and sell a product or service is as critical as political and civil liberties and its infringement affects a fisherman as much as it does a farmer as a factory hand.

"Zoom in on a mode of livelihood and capture the struggles" is the latest call to young filmmakers for participation in a national livelihood documentary competition, "Jeevika 2003", that has been announced by the Centre for Civil Society, a Delhi-based independent non-profit, research and educational think-tank.

The documentaries can focus on legal and regulatory restrictions, bureaucratic process of approvals and licences with attendant extortion and harassment as well as social and cultural norms and religious practices that prevent or constrain people from earning an honest living in the vocation of their choice. These procedures and practices, coupled with the lack of rule of law, absence of transparency and accountability in governance and poor enforcement of individual rights including property rights, take away the freedom to earn a living.

The film can be in any Indian language with English subtitles and the last date for submission is December 20. While the first cut will be awarded a prize of Rs.25,000, the second will receive Rs. 20,000. The third will receive Rs. 15,000. A winner will be provided financial support to the tune of Rs 1 lakh for the next film venture on a related issue. "Jeevika 2003" is supported by Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the John Templeton Foundation.

Documentary competition (The Hindu, May 6  2003)

MANGALORE: The Centre for Civil Society has invited documentaries for Jeevika 2003, a national livelihood documentary competition.

This competition is the first national-level documentary competition focussing on livelihood issues, according to a press release here.

Entries should be sent to Centre for Civil Society, Jeevika 2003, K-36, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110016.

The last date for submission of entries is December 20.